LWENGO’s KITATTA BLASTS ABSENTEE HEALTH WORKERS, CALLS FOR STRICTER MEASURES FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE

The 3rd National Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Conference, held from October 16 to 18, 2024, at Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo, featured Lwengo District Governor CPA Ibrahim Kitatta as one of the senior panelists.

A furious Kitatta blasted absentee government health workers, whom he blamed for the mess in the health sector at health center level. Kitatta said there is a tendency of government health workers to prioritize serving clients at their own private clinics and consultancies high-end private clinics over their official duties at government health Centers in utter contraception of Oublic Service Standing Orders.

Kitatta noted that despite President Museveni having ensured that salaries of health workers be increased, Service delivery has not improved to match the investment by government. He highlighted a negative correlation between increment in salaries and rise in service delivery in health centers in Lwengo District, suggesting that such funds would be better spent on supporting Village Health Teams (VHTs) and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) to boost their morale and enhance disease prevention efforts.

Kitatta asserted that it’s time for the government to work through parliament and overhaul the employment terms for health workers. He proposed a shift to renewable performance-based contracts, emphasizing that renewals should hinge on individual performance rather than the outdated permanent and pensionable system, which has fostered laziness and complacency among workers hence putting lives of Ugandans at risk.

He also emphasized the critical role of effective governance in enhancing health service delivery during a session focused on evaluating the impact of community health workers’ linkages with other sectors.

Kitatta asserted that “any intervention without proper governance is as good as not having it,” pointing out that many government programs, while well-conceived on paper, often fall short due to unclear governance structures and systems. He argued that strong governance is essential for ensuring that health initiatives are both effective and sustainable.

He praised the government’s focus on the parish level as a key driver of socio-economic transformation, stating that addressing social services at this grassroots level is crucial for community development. “If the issue of social services is concentrated at the parish level, communities will transform,” he remarked.

Kitatta also stressed the importance of engaging community leaders—such as cultural leaders, religious and opinion leaders—in health governance. He asserted that these stakeholders must be involved in the planning and implementation of health initiatives, as their involvement fosters ownership and accountability. “When these stakeholders are trained and engaged, they will help monitor the progress of interventions,” he stated.

The conference, organized by the Ministry of Health in partnership with various health-related organizations, also featured notable speakers, including Minister of Health Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, State Minister for Disaster Preparedness Hon. Dr. Lillian Aber, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr. Diana Atwiine.

This event underscored the importance of effective governance and collaboration among stakeholders in improving health service delivery across Uganda.